I perhaps bored you about my work and Alexander Burnes. So here is a short clip of Nadira working last month, to cheer everybody up.
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DoNNyDarKKo writes, excitedly :
“OT but pertinent to some of the posts
This is something which our media don’t report.
There are 400 US soldiers fighting on the side of the Kiev Govt.
German securuty services received the information from the horses mouth so to speak.
Several German speaking newspapers are carrying the story.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/ukraine-krise-400-us-soeldner-von-academi-kaempfen-gegen-separatisten-a-968745.html”
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If I were DoNNy, I’d brush up my German first.
The Spiegel article refers to the US private security firm “Academi” and uses the word “Soeldner”, which – as Nevermind (or Craig for that matter)would surely be happy to confirm – translates as “mercenaries”.
Therefore DoNNy’s reference to “400 US soldiers” is (whether deliberate or not) inaccurate and misleading.
Happy to have been of help, as always.
“If the eastern Ukraine wants out and enough people say so, then what is the big deal in splitting up?”
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I hope Nevermind will forgive me for agreeing with him, but this outcome would in fact in the interests of Ukraine. I believe Craig has already written to that effect.
Such an outcome would be good for those Ukrainians who would not wish to see the alternative outcome of a “federal” Ukraine, of which certain areas would be influenced by Big Brother next door to attempt to scupper any Ukrainian efforts to move closer to the EU (or NATO for that matter).
A smaller Ukraine – rid of a fifth column beholden to Russia (whether intentionally or otherwise) – would be in a much better position to move closer to the EU.
Moreover, it would be rid of a large part of its antiquated heavy industry, about which Russia could worry in the future.
I do hope that the Ukraine govt in Kiev has the sense to see this.
Further to my above post, the inhabitants of those parts of Ukraine which might opt to join the Russian Federation would – according to various posters on this blog – in fact be better off. This is because – apparently – the Russian Federation has greatly increased pensions, etc, whereas Ukraine is about to be destroyed by the IMF/EU etc, etc. Simples! 🙂
You can speak German and are able to translate soeldener into mercenary, bravo.
By their nationality these mercenaries are US citizens and if they are shot hung up to dry or quartered we will hear no end from Obummer about it.
I hope they are getting what they are sowing.
“Despite hefty international critic over the secessionist referendum, it is proceeding. Seperatists speak of an ‘overwhelming participation’ in the election. At the same time Ukraines military is fighting in various City’s.”
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/referendum-in-der-ostukraine-separatisten-verkuenden-grosse-teilnahme-a-968762.html
freely translated this means that the eastern Ukraine will split off the rest and that we should be encouraging talks on how best to seceed, borders, bilateral greements on access, gas supplies, etc., not rattle more sabres a la Academi and some republican warmongers.
Who is paying for these mercenaries?
Habba !
Let’s call a spade a friggin spade ! My German is fluent thanks very much.
Yes they are mercenaries , all ex- soldiers , guided as in Afghanistan and Iraq and Libya by Langley and probably also the Pentagon.
Just cause their paychecks come from a private company doesn’t mean they are not US. Who pays Academi ? It isn’t Ukraine. They can’t even pay for gas received 3 years ago.
‘It is true that Ukraine – the biggest country and bread basket of Europe – has now been pried wide open for transnational Western banks, agribusiness, Big Oil and NATO to feed on. And it is true that all talk of “land grab” has been projected onto Russia even as US Greystone and Blackwater mercenaries – now called “Academi” in the Big Lie lexicon – move on the ground in Ukraine as the US and NATO propagate ever more threats of force and embargo against “Russia’s aggression”. Reverse blame is always the US geostrategic game. “Russia’s designs to take the whole of Ukraine” is again US projection of its own objective, as in the old days when “world rule plot” was attributed to the former USSR. Yet a line has been drawn at Crimea, and drawn again in Eastern Ukraine, and it is backed by a country that cannot be arm-twisted, propaganda invaded, or air-bombed with impunity. That is why the one-way threats never stop. It is the first line yet drawn by an historical power outside of China against the exponentially multiplying US-led private transnational money sequences devouring the world.’
Prof. John McMurtry
Global Research, April 26, 2014
http://www.globalresearch.ca/global-society-destruction-and-the-ukraine-crisis-decoding-its-deep-structural-meaning/5379275
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McMurtry
The most ludicrous fact found on that search is that ex Attorney General John Ashcroft is I/c ethics at Academi. He was of course appointed to the AG post by George W Bush.
http://www.wired.com/2011/05/blackwaters-new-ethics-chief-john-ashcroft/
DoNNyDarKo
“Habba !
Let’s call a spade a friggin spade ! My German is fluent thanks very much.
Yes they are mercenaries , all ex- soldiers , guided as in Afghanistan and Iraq and Libya by Langley and probably also the Pentagon.”
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Yes, by all means let’s call a spade a spade.
And let us call mercenaries who may happen to be US citizens mercenaries who happen to be US citizens and not “US soldiers”.
If your German is so fluent, can you explain why you translated “Soeldner” as “soldiers”, if not to mislead? Perhaps you thought that most readers don’t know German?
Nevermind
“You can speak German and are able to translate soeldener into mercenary, bravo.”
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Thanks, Nevermind! So well that I could translate “Soeldner” – as opposed to your “soeldener”.
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More general point – this squib from DoNNyDarKo again illustrates something I’ve pointed to before, namely that commenters probably don’t expect readers to look carefully at the links they provide. They are naughty boys!
The BBC are giving the viewers a double dose of Aaronovitch today. He is on Dateline with our friend Esler.
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Here he is with Amanpour this morning on Marr reviewing the papers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27361864
Mary
“Aaronovitch is looking smarter than usual but needs clothes in a larger size.”
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Yes, that’s an important point about his suit and reveals quite a bit about his political proclivities, methinks.
You could also have mentioned that he was wearing a three-button suit jacket (this is very ‘last year’) and, moreover, had all three buttons buttoned (this is politically symbolic, indicating approval of the fact that all three main political parties in the UK follow more or less the same policies. “We’ve got things buttoned up”, so to speak).
Hope that helps.
Mary
“..Aaronovitch today. He is on Dateline with our friend Esler.”
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Surely such an eligible man doesn’t have to use a dating service?
Apologies for going off topic. Finally! Managed to get hold of a copy of Murder in Samarkand, this afternoon. Did involve visiting three different stores in London including Wandsworth and Waterloo Station concourse – Foyles, copious phone calls here and there, to eventually been told that Foyles, Charing Cross Road had one copy and that it had been reserved for collection. Intrigued to read following on back cover ‘Craig Murray has been a deep embarrassment to the entire Foreign Office’ – Jack Straw. Now why would you say that Mr Straw, is the first question that springs to mind?
Hope it is as good a read, as A Spy Among Friends – Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal (2014). Afterword by John Le Carre. ISBN: 9781408851722. High praise indeed and spellbindingly compelling. Fascinating story and I really did not want to put it down.
Kelly ben Maimon, 11 May, 2014 – 3:00 pm
I always thought the Jack Straw comment on the back cover was classic. He should be on trial alongside Tony Blair. And who knows, one day perhaps he will be. 🙂
Back to petty schoolmastering Habbi? you are such a piss poor communicator.
Ignore the tripe Nevermind.
Recommend this on BBC 4 tonight at 9pm.
Radio Times Review by:Alison Graham
This is such a wonderful drama (from 1983). If you’ve seen it before then enjoy it again, and if it’s new to you, please, I beg you, watch it. This is Alan Bennett at his best – funny, moving and clever, and Alan Bates was never better as the disillusioned and homesick spy Guy Burgess, marinating in booze and disappointment during his Moscow banishment.
An Englishman Abroad is based on a true story, of a brief, chance 1958 meeting between the actress Coral Browne (who plays herself) and Burgess when Browne was on a tour of the Soviet Union playing Gertrude in Hamlet. They first meet when he throws up in her dressing-room basin.
Alan Bennett’s drama, starring Alan Bates, Coral Browne and Charles Gray.
Then Sky at Night from the Brecon Beacons, followed at 10.30 by another Bennett gem, Dinner at Noon.
Duration: 38 minutes
In the setting of the Crown Hotel in Harrogate, with its leisure breaks and conference facilities, Alan Bennett reflects on the subject of class.
Miss Marple AND Harold Hobson?
Nit picking Habba , and spouting the same BS as the US Govt.
We have no combat personnel in Iraq. They just don’t count the thousands of so called contractors / mercenaries/ söldner all names used to obfuscate the facts that they are soldiers and they are armed to the teeth, paid for and trained by the US of A and they are used to destabilise regions where the US hold national interests.
They are not included as casualties of conflict and therefore are expendable too. Throw away soldiers.
“Nit picking Habba ,…”
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Not really, DoNNy, just a believer in using words properly in order not to give false and/or misleading impressions.
I would recommend you to purchase the Shorter OED in two volumes, the latest edition you can afford. Mr Doug Scorgie did and the improved quality of his prose (if not of his ideas) was apparent almost immediately.
DoNNyDarKo 11 May, 2014 – 6:08 pm
Spot on. Both Iraq and Libya are full of private armies funded by the west. Tim Spicer, friend of Tony Buckingham, both one-time mercenaries themselves, has interests in countries which NATO bombed to kingdom come. My article, published two days ago, explains some of the manipulations and intrigues of people who continue to steal the oil, and those protecting their interests.
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2014/05/08/benghazi-the-insecure-crossroad-of-oil-mercenaries-and-jihadists/
John Goss 11 May 8.17pm
A very, very good article John. Exceptionally well written and thought provoking (even a simpleton, like me can understand what you are saying). Makes a change from the sanitised view we get from the BBC. Well done.
Even if I write in rhyme Habba it won’t change the facts.
And as for using words properly ? Read Pinnochio ?
Ever since the “rumours” about Blackwater in Ukraine popped up they’ve been denied along with any other stories of US involvement.
The facts are ,the US is involved up to it’s fat brass neck and doing a very bad job keeping a lid on it.
Mary 11 May, 2014 – 5:26 pm
Thanks so much for that recommendation. Alan Bennett at his best (and he was pretty damn good at the best of times). A fellow Yorkshireman too. The portrayal of a reduced and drink-sodden Burgess, missing the establishment trappings, by Alan Bates was superb.
I’ve been watching the awful, it has to be said, first world war medical camp serial, which lacks, most of all, drama, (although I never saw last night’s episode). Following Jamaica Inn, which was better, but not great like the novel is, The Crimson Field shows we are not getting value for our money. And BBC News is shit.
Kelly ben Maimon, thank you for your kind words. I read Murder in Samarkand very quickly. It was unputdownable I think is the expression. Enjoy. Thanks too for the ‘A Spy Among Friends’ recommendation. Should fit in very nicely with last night’s Bennett play ‘An Englishman Abroad’ BBC4 last night. I’ll put it on my ‘to read’ list.
Laughing? I nearly fell off my chair when the airhead presenter on Sky News introduced one Olivier Guitta just now to speak about the Nigerian girl captives. She said that he was from the Henry Jackson Society who ‘are concerned with human rights’!
Here is their front page. http://henryjacksonsociety.org/
You can see Monsieur Guitta’s name in two pieces.
The Arab Spring: An Assessment Three Years On
by Olivier Guitta, Hannah Stuart, Emily Dyer, Robin Simcox and Rupert Sutton
A new Henry Jackson Society Report – The Arab Spring: An Assessment Three Years On – examines the ways in which the Arab Spring has affected the citizens of countries across the Middle East and North Africa, and assesses the impact on countries three years later.
Aider les jeunes djihadistes en herbe à revenir sur terre
by Olivier Guitta
Originally published in LeTemps
Scotland Yard a lancé une campagne nationale pour encourager les femmes à lutter contre le départ de leurs proches pour le djihad en Syrie.
We can all troop along to the well named Thatcher Room at Portcullis House on Wednesday 14th for a talk on ‘Ukraine’s Presidential Election: Forging the Future amidst Turmoil’ with SPEAKERS:
Orysia Lutsevych
Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
Andy Hunder
Director, Ukrainian Institute in London
Dr. Andrew Foxall
Director, Russia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society
There is no show without the TBFF.
Nigeria Kidnap Strikes at the Heart of Schools-for-All
Posted by Sir Michael Barber on Wed, 07/05/2014
Imagine if 200 girls had been abducted at gunpoint from a school in north-east England. Imagine that for three weeks no word of them had been heard. That would be a massive story across the globe. There would be outrage and scathing criticism of the Government.
http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/blogpost/nigeria-kidnap-strikes-heart-schools-all
Sir Michael Barber is a trustee of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, chief education adviser at Pearson and the Department for International Development’s special representative on education in Pakistan. This article was originally printed in the London Evening Standard.
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He’s at No 7 on http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/top-ten-scariest-people-in-education-reform-7-sir-michael-barber-cea-pearson/
Time with McKinsey too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Michael_Barber
Correctly placed in a niche at the TBFF then.
Mary
“Imagine if 200 girls had been abducted at gunpoint from a school in north-east England. Imagine that for three weeks no word of them had been heard. That would be a massive story across the globe. There would be outrage and scathing criticism of the Government.”
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I’m sure that’s correct. Your point is…?
And the purpose of the tr—‘s presence on this blog is…….?
Well, Mary – you posted the comment, I didn’t. So your point was…?
Of course, there may have been no point.
If so, don’t be ashamed to say so; after all, we know you by now!